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After having my first baby in my living room I became hugely passionate about home birth. If you are looking to have a physiological birth with little to no intervention, home is by far and away the most likely place for that to happen. I have supported many home births in Nottingham and Derby, and all have been total magic in their own ways. Even a home birth that includes a transfer into hospital can be incredibly empowering and positive.
I attended Indy and Krishan's birth of their sweet baby last December. They had a gorgeous setup in their bedroom and after a long labour that ebbed and flowed she pushed her baby out into her and her partners arms. Not long after they were snuggled up in their own bed, in privacy and peace. The way it should be.
This totally depends what the individual birth calls for. My default is to be hands off (I trust birth) but sometimes a birth calls for a more hands on approach in terms of physical support as well as advocacy and practical bits and bobs.
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POOL STUFF - I offer pool hire to my home birth clients. This also means I normally end up setting up and filling the pool as well as emptying it and tidying up afterwards.
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REGULAR BIRTH SUPPORT - Of course I am always offering the same gentle, encouraging, informed birth support that I would in any setting.
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PRACTICAL SUPPORT - Sometimes a partner will be very involved and maybe in the pool (as above) in which case I am usually scurrying around in the background, providing drinks, snacks, towels, gentle support and anything else that is needed.
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ADVOCACY - Even in a home birth, there are times where having and advocate is incredibly helpful. There are many reasons midwives may recommend transfers which are not necessarily evidence based or right for everyone. It can be really helpful to have someone with a knowledge of what is normal in physiological birth, to talk through your decisions with and provide evidence based care when needed. Sometimes my clients prefer to have the midwives set up in a different room, and I act as a go between, allowing the birth space to remain completely peaceful and uninterrupted.
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TRANSFER SUPPORT - Occasionally a home birth with end up transferring into hospital (although it is worth mentioning that this is rarely for emergency reasons.) In this scenario I join my clients at hospital and continue support there until after the baby is born. I am along for the ride, whatever direction it takes!
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THE CLEAN UP - A lot of people are worried about the mess of a home birth, but let me tell you it's nothing that a few towels and inco sheets can't take care of! Once baby is born I stay to drain and pack away the pool, and get the space looking back to normal, so my clients can settle into their new phase without a mess to deal with.
If you are under the care of NUH in Nottingham you are lucky to have access to the amazing continuity of care Home Birth Team. They provide all their antenatal and postnatal care at your home as well as supporting you through labour. I have worked closely with this team and have had such great feedback about them from everyone who has encountered them.
In short yes.
Of course there is no totally risk free setting, but choosing to birth at home lowers your risk of many interventions that can have both long and short term effects on both you and your baby. Even if you don't fit in the perfect 'low risk' category it is still very possible to choose a home birth.
2019 Lancet study of half a million women low risk women who planned home births showed they were:
40% less likely to have caesarean
50% less likely to have an instrumental delivery
55% less likely to have an episiotomy
40% less likely to have a 3rd or 4th degree tear
75% less likely to have in infection
And that is AS safe for first time parents as for second and onwards.
If you are interested in Home Birth Support, get in touch for a free, no obligation chat to see if we are a good fit! I cover Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire.
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